“Are you the family of the cute, fat beagle of the neighborhood?” a young man in biker shorts and helmet asked me. The knock at the door had startled me, as it had been such a lazy Father’s Day, and my ex-husband was visiting with my son, Daniel and I that afternoon.
The cute, fat Beagle dog was named Rascal, and had been such a gift from God three years prior. My mother had just been diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) aka Lou Gehrig’s Disease, and in an effort to relieve some of the emotional stress and pain we were going through, Daniel and I had stopped at a local pet store to “look” at some puppies. I had grown up around animals, and loved puppies and kittens, so I welcomed the reprieve from the anxiety of my mother’s fast approaching future.
Daniel and I both noticed the cute “Beagle” puppies, and I noted the price – $125.00!
When Daniel asked to hold one of the puppies, a certain one seemed to look at him in a way of “you’re finally here”. As he reached into the bin to pick him up, the “magical” bonding was instantaneous. I can’t explain it, but I was compelled to buy the puppy, who would not allow Daniel to let go of him – not that Daniel tried hard. He was like Velcro in his arms, and Daniel and he assumed the position of “spirit brothers” from that point on…I remarked that he was “sure a rascal”, and the name stuck. “Rascal”… although we should have named him “Houdini” as he always found a way to get out of our acreage that was securely fenced. We were constantly seeking new ways to block any measure of possible escape. No matter how long we watched out the window when he was outside, the moment we returned to our normal activity, we’d hear an “arooomp! aroomp!” and our Rascal would be howling after some rabbit or squirrel that had dared to enter into his view, and chasing it off down the street, outside the fenced- in back yard! We could NEVER find how he got out – we never located any hole no matter how many times we scoured the fence line! Eventually, the surrounding neighbors just accepted the fact that the “cute, fat Beagle” was the self appointed mascot of the neighborhood, and would wave to him as they drove slowly by. If truth be told, I think he adopted quite a few of the neighborhood kids, and was fed a lot of treats, which only encouraged his rebellious attitude against being “just a dog.” The other dogs of the neighborhood could be seen “talking” with him through their own fence lines, and, much to Rascal’s embarrassment, would bark and yelp loudly when I called for him from the front door.
As Rascal grew, so did the progression of my mother’s illness. When she could still hold and feel him, she would hold Rascal and state that he seemed to always “smell like a puppy”! He brought joy to the whole family during a difficult time, and would often come running when he would overhear me crying about the anticipated loss of my mother. After her passing, I continued Nursing School, and he would often wait up for me, greeting me after a long night of clinical studies. He often rolled over on his back, allowing me to practice hearing with my stethoscope, and was frequently rewarded with his favorite treat – hotdogs!
After my divorce, Rascal gave me the security I needed as he and I slept alone in our big, quiet house. Often, he would be waiting in the driveway if I should be “late” (past 10:00pm) in returning home, then, after giving me a stern look, would turn and walk silently toward the house…
On that Father’s Day morning, I had spent an unusual moment of “love” with Rascal, rubbing his stomach and telling him how much I appreciated all that he had meant to us, and he looked at me in that same “magical” look that he and Daniel had shared, and seemed to tell me that he loved me so much, too.
As I spoke with the young man at the door, I sensed an alarm in his voice as he inquired about our connection to the”cute, fat Beagle”. Since Daniel had left on his bike to visit his friend, my first thought was that Rascal had somehow followed him outside and was roamin’ the streets of our quiet neighborhood again. “He’s just been hit by a jeep, and I think he’s hurt!” Everything moved in slow motion, as I ran outside the front door. There, in the middle of the road, lay my 3 year old baby, Rascal. He didn’t move, and I couldn’t grasp mentally if he were dead. I, an end-of-life nurse, who had so many times held the hand of a dying person, and noted the very moments of last breath and life of a human being, couldn’t discern if he was breathing, if he had a pulse… His pupils appeared fixed, and he wasn’t responsive – but how could I know? He had brown emesis flowing from his mouth, and I comforted him with love and soft words, as my ex-husband lifted him into the back seat of the car to transport him to a nearby animal hospital. As I rode in the back seat with him, I slowly began to realize that maybe, maybe, he was dying, or had already died… I began to do what I had encouraged so many families of my patients to do at the last moments of the living – talking to him, thanking him for his life, love and loyalty to me and “his” family… and saying goodbye. When we arrived at the animal hospital, the blur of the technician, and my clumsy questions of “are you sure he’s gone?” seemed like a dream as he lifted Rascal out of the car… The technician allowed me to use his stethoscope as I , like so many times before, listened to his heart…I was in a daze as the tech explained that city ordinances would not allow us to bury him on our property, and he discussed disposal options with us…
I couldn’t stop crying as we headed home to find Daniel, and of course we all mourned our loss together…
The grief was fresh on my mind the next morning as I prepared to meet an elderly patient that I cared for. It was my day off, and I had volunteered to assist in obtaining a mammogram of her at a nearby diagnostic clinic, since she had no family, and our facility’s transporter was unable to stay with residents at appointments. I met Mamie* and the transport van at the clinic, and sat quietly with her as we waited her turn for the xray procedure.
Mamie was a quiet woman with the bluest eyes I had ever seen. She was always smiling and cooperative, but never spoke. Alzheimer’s Disease had taken a toll on her, and it was unsure if she could, or ever would, speak. She just seemed to quietly observe her surroundings throughout the lively days of the facility where she resided, and where I was employed as a care coordinator.
I had noted a lump on her right breast a few days prior, and a mammogram was needed to evaluate it. I held her hand as we were taken to the exam room for testing. As I began to undress her and place the pink drape over her, she remained trusting as I explained, again, that we had to let the “lady” look at her breast and take a picture.
While we waited, I couldn’t get Rascal off of my mind, and I couldn’t stop myself from sharing the story with Mamie. As I began sharing the events of the previous day with Mamie, she just sat and smiled, looking off with those blue eyes in her private world as usual. With an exasperating sigh, I commented; “Oh, Mamie, do you think animals go to Heaven?” In a movement that paralleled the familiar “magic” of Rascal , she turned her head toward me and looked straight into my eyes. As she mesmerized me with those crystal blues, she opened her mouth and voiced the only words I have ever heard her speak: “Well, of course they do!”
I’m not sure if I was stunned at her speaking, or at the confirmation that I felt I had heard straight from Heaven – but I was overwhelmed with the peace that my beloved Rascal would be with me again. Not in this world, but forever in the next…
It’s been 12 years since I last heard that “aroomp! aroomp!” from the cute, fat Beagle that just couldn’t help being “such a dog”. Occasionally, I relive those last moments with him over and over, but with peace, I also relive that moment with Mamie, who was every bit “my nurse” that morning.
(If you have a favorite nursing story, please send to Oklahoma’s Nursing Times. Be sure to include your permission to share. News@new.oknursingtimes.com)

Q. I am 34 and totally stressed out working in corporate America. When I had to add an anti-anxiety medication to face my cubicle, I knew this was not a good fit. What I find interesting is the number of people who have made negative comments about my choice to do something fun even if it means making less money. Why do people have to be so negative?

A. The fact that you became alarmed at your growing anxiety and need for medication to get through your work day is life saving. Your body is telling you that you are paying a high price to work for this company. It is one thing to get up in the morning and take a vitamin but needing anti-anxiety medication to function for the next eight hours is crazy.
So kudos to you!!!
There will always be people who see the glass as half empty and voice negative comments. It is disappointing when people think we do not have the brains to write a different life script. Life is not “One size fits all.” Some people are risk takers, some stay securely inside the box and some are curious about what else might be out there.
We cannot accept taking medication in order to cope with our jobs as the norm.
When I left my job with the State of Oklahoma, making a good salary with good benefits but bored out of my mind; only one person encouraged me to take the risk to do something that I felt passionate about. I was a single mother with a five year old child that I had to provide for but I was losing myself in “my cubicle.” Five months into the job I knew the fit was wrong; my frequent trips to the cafeteria when I was not hungry was at least something to do.
Nine months was all I could do. I left my salary, benefits and boredom and pursued my dream. I had one person who thought my mental, emotional and physical health was a priority over big money. It is not rocket science that money does not buy happiness but it does buy medications and co-pays for doctor’s appointments.
We cannot stay in a bad situation and except medication to make it all better. It might make it tolerable but that is not better. It buys time until the next symptom appears. Like it or not, the body will always let us know if we are in a bad place.
So for all those people out there who are negative about your choices remember that is a reflection of their fears and anxieties. It is not about you. The box is a home for many.

Nurses are life-saving, dedicated professionals who work tirelessly day in and day out for the well-being of their patients. They are the first to see patients and often the last to comfort in a time of need. But do you truly know who is on the other end of that stethoscope? Let’s explore the many myths about the nursing profession.
Here are several myths and misconceptions about the nursing profession debunked.
Myth: Nurses are assistants to physicians.
Reality: We are actually equal partners in health care, each with a separate and unique yet vital role. One is not an elevated version of the other. Nurses work to keep you healthy and well, helping you to heal when necessary, providing you comfort and care, supporting you at the end of your life, and bringing new life into the world.
Myth: Most nurses work in hospitals.
Reality: Only about half of all nurses work in hospitals. The rest work in varied settings such as public health, schools, corporations, pharmaceutical companies, wellness centers, law firms, law-enforcement agencies and government agencies, just to name a few. Nurses also work doing health research, setting health-care policy, running not-for-profit and government health agencies, as health care facility administrators, and managing technology and patient-care data.
Myth: Physicians are the real experts in health care.
Reality: Nurses are health-care experts in their own right. Much of their work involves health teaching to patients and family members. Examples include: Teaching an adolescent (and his/her family) who is newly diagnosed with diabetes how to monitor blood sugar, inject themselves with insulin, prevent complications and so on; helping and supporting a woman newly diagnosed with breast cancer to navigate her way through the scary and convoluted maze of cancer treatment, symptom management and medical appointments; working closely with a man who has recently had a heart attack to prepare him for the physical and emotional challenges of his medical condition while returning home and continuing his recovery and rehabilitation; instructing first-time parents how to care for their newborn; providing grief counseling and support to family members of loved ones who are dying or have passed away. These are just a few examples.
Nurses also have expertise in wound care, minimizing the risk of infections, avoiding and treating skin ulcers, managing pain, managing chronic illness, maintaining and attaining health and well-being, providing comfort care, counseling, coaching and much more.
Myth: There is a nursing shortage because no one wants to be a nurse anymore.
Reality: On the contrary, most schools of nursing have a two- to three-year waiting list to get into their programs. Nursing is a hot career goal these days! The shortage, which is starting to show itself, is a result of an increased need for nurses as the population ages, nurses taking on more roles in the healthcare sector, and a large number of baby boomer nurses predicted to retire soon.
Myth: Real men don’t go into nursing.
Reality: More and more men are discovering the great opportunities that nursing offers, including satisfying and meaningful work, good salary and many pathways to advancement. And although only 7% of all current nurses are men, schools of nursing are reporting that their student body consists of 12-15% men. So, those numbers will be increasing!
Today more than ever nurses are proud to stand together and do what they do best, make a difference.
Donna Cardillo, RN, MA, CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) of DonnaCardillo.com travels the world helping women and healthcare professionals to live fearlessly in career and life and to reach their full potential. She does that as a keynote speaker, columnist, author, and cut-up. Donna is an expert blogger at DoctorOz.com and the author of three books, with the 4th on its way.

Faith community nursing is a growing field, says Nelda Hobbs, RN, clinical instructor, and the Faith Community Nursing program coordinator.

by Mike Lee
Staff Writer

Oklahoma City University’s Kramer School of Nursing and the Oklahoma Nurses Association will present Faith Community Nursing Foundations Course, said Nelda Hobbs, RN, clinical instructor, and the Faith Community Nursing program coordinator.
“It is a recognized specialty area by the National League of Nursing,” Hobbs said.
The event will take place at the Kramer School, located at NW 27th Street and Blackwelder, Room 334, in Oklahoma City. It is will take place Oct 28-30 and Nov. 11-13.
“I’m very interested in getting this information out to the nurses in Oklahoma,” Hobbs said. “This is the faith community nursing basic preparation educational course. And what that is we offer it here at Kramer School of Nursing and we invite nurses of all denominations to come and attend this prep course so they meet the established criteria and curriculum to bring Faith Community Nursing into their congregation.”
Course work includes:
· Gain an understanding of the theoretical knowledge necessary to begin in practice as a Faith Community Nurse.
· Discuss the various roles of the Faith Community Nurse in Practice.
· Examine and nurture personal spiritual development.
· Identify a network of continuing educationl and support.
Most faith community nurses have a church affiliation.
“But if you’re a faith community nurse, it’s wherever God calls you.” Hobbs said. “Wherever you’re needed. Whatever spiritual journey you happen to go on with whomever you meet.”
Faith community nursing encompasses mind, body and spirit, Hobbs said. It is one of the fastest growing specialty fields in nursing, she said. Faith community nursing is not hands-on nursing. It is being a spiritual representative to help an individual on whatever journey they are on, she said.
There is a Faith Community Nursing Association of Oklahoma established in Oklahoma City with regular meetings. Faith community nurses come together to see what their assessments are for their congregation or their community at large, Hobbs said.
“I’ve been here for almost 12 years,” Hobbs said. “I consider Oklahoma City University my parish community,” Hobbs said.
Many of the nurses who complete the Faith Community Basic Education Course go into mission work. Each semester, Hobbs does a presentation about faith community nursing to the students. Her hope is that nurses will take this practice into their daily practices. They will be the instrument of meeting whatever spiritual or emotional need is present, Hobbs said.
“We want all religions to be part of the faith community nurse movement,” Hobbs said. “But I hope that nurses realize that when they’re dealing with patients, that the spiritual component of care is so important and can make such a big difference to their recovery, to have somebody there that they know.”
Hobbs said hopefully nursing students graduate from Kramer School of Nursing knowing they take care of mind, body and spirit.
The program offered in October and November is offered once a year. It may be offered twice a year in the future, Hobbs said. Kramer School of Nursing is where the program originated. Several years ago, Catholic Charities assumed the responsibility of the program. However, in 2014, OCU took it back from Catholic Charities, she said.
“I was excited about that because I wanted to be responsible,” Hobbs said. “It’s such an important area of nursing that we just really need to get nurses back to looking back at that piece of patient care, or client care as they say now.”
Patients are more than a procedure, she said. They are not a fractured leg.
“You have to look at that whole person that is in that hospital with all the things that are going on,” Hobbs said. “Be the vehicle to let them know that there are other forces at work, or to just reinforce in them the need they might have right then for a higher power. Some people like to say God, some people like to say Jesus, and in some religions that’s not the deity we refer to, but whomever it is that they feel like they get that strength from — that’s who we want to know is there.”
Nurses must complete the educational program in order to call themselves a faith community nurse, she said. Anyone interested in pursuing faith community nursing may contact Nelda Hobbs at 405-208-5945 or nhobbs@okcu.edu.

Courtney Myers, RN, director of Emergency Care and George Benard, RN, division director for Emergency Services say the St. Anthony Pavilion will enhance health care needs in Oklahoma City and the surrounding area.

St. Anthony Pavilion to deliver hope with state-of-the-art care

story and photo by James Coburn

Progress continues for the St. Anthony Pavilion at St. Anthony Hospital in midtown Oklahoma City. The new 110,000-square-foot building is under construction at 10th Street and Dewey.
Total construction cost including equipment is $53 million, said George Benard, RN, division director for Emergency Services for St. Anthony’s emergency care in the metroplex.
“This has been part of the expansion of St. Anthony for the expansion of better serving our community,” Benard said. “We’ve opened our fourth healthplex and now we’ve moved on to the pavilion stage, which will be our brand new, state-of-the art, 36-bed ER.”
Groundbreaking took place in May. 2014; the building’s completion is anticipated at the end of May or first of June of next year.
The four-story structure will be complete with brick. stone, stucco with a glass exterior and a new roof-top heliport. It will connect at the northeast wing and through the existing east entrance to the hospital.
“Services provided will include a new emergency room, intensive care unit and step-down nursing units,” Benard said.
“The first floor is all emergency services. The second, third and fourth are a telemetry unit and critical care units,” he continued.
A previously completed phase of the project involved the addition of surface parking in order to make room for the new structure. The surface parking is located on the block between 8th and 9th Streets and Dewey and Walker.
The entrance currently off of 9th Street will change to the Walker side of the building for emergency room patients and those patients being transferred there by EMSA.
The configuration of the St. Anthony Pavilion will compliment the needs of patient care with easy access for physicians, nurses, patients and family members as well as related hospital staff.
There will be 48 critical care beds.
“Our critical care director, Darla Wilson, has been directly involved with all of the critical care beds and how they’ve set it up,” Benard said. “This has actually been a five-year project for the Pavilion.”
The two existing ER facilities for cardiac services and the main ER will operate from the new facility while gaining beds.
The same physician group that serves all of St. Anthony’s ERs is the Team Health Physician Group and will continue as Dr. Chad Boren is its medical director. Courtney Myers, RN, serves as director of the St. Anthony emergency department.
“I love to get trauma patients, so I’m excited to get a new building and CC (critical care) is close to us,” Myers said. “So I feel like we’re going to be more marketable. We’ll also get a second helicopter pad, so we’ll be able to take more helicopters from the field.” A stroke patient from rural Oklahoma was recently transported to St. Anthony for neurological care. The hospital is geared for any type of trauma, she said. Transfers are also made from other facilities.
“Our affiliate hospitals that we have throughout the state also transfer patients,” Benard said. “Currently, our helipad is located on our west parking garage. We will actually have the helipad on the Pavilion itself with an elevator that goes right to it to better serve us and the patients that are being brought in and going to the critical care units and the cath lab.”
All of the ER equipment is being updated, a process that has been in place with the development of the St. Anthony Heathplex systems, Myers said.
“The newest thing that we’ve got is a brand new level 1 fluid infuser,” Myers said. “We can infuse fluid or blood products very rapidly to someone who needs them.”
Myers is also happy about a new area designed in the ER for mental health patients, she said.
“It’s state-of-the-art for anywhere in Oklahoma to be thinking emergency rooms with a lot of mental health patients. It will be greatly improved in the new building. It will have its own quiet, safe area. It’s just a better value for those patients.”
A new CT-scan will be added to the department in line with the trauma rooms. The physicians’ rooms will face toward those areas.
The hospital staggers the amount of nurses in the ER. The day begins with seven ER nurses in the department. Four more nurses are added at 11 a.m. and another RN at 3 p.m.
“I truly have the love for the emergency population,” Benard said. “It’s ever-changing, and you’re always a student. You’re always learning something new every day.”
Myers has been with the St. Anthony ER for 11 of the 17 years she has served there.
“The thing I love about the emergency room is you never know what’s going to come through,” she said. “It’s just the opportunity to touch this volume of lives. You’re not just touching the patient. You’re touching all the families.”

Callie Rinehart, RN, enjoys her job as Nurse Educator for the Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital where she has been a nurse for 5 years.

by Vickie Jenkins – Writer/Photographer

Meet Callie Rinehart, RN, Nurse Educator at the Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital in Bethany, OK. Rinehart went to school at Redlands in El Reno, OK for her associate degree, Southwestern Oklahoma State for her bachelor’s and is currently studying at the University of Missouri for her master’s. “I love being a nurse and taking care of people,” Rinehart states. “I am so happy with my job.”
Rinehart tells a very touching story of how she came about wanting to work in the medical field, taking care of others. “It was all because of my dad and it is kind of a bitter/sweet story. When I was in the 5th grade, my dad was having some medical issues and ended up being hospitalized for a month. After he was in the hospital, he was released and able to come home, yet he would need some wound care done. My mom was real squeamish and couldn’t handle changing his dressings, etc. I was the one that took care of his wounds. So, here I was, in the 5th grade, taking care of my dad because my mom couldn’t do it. I actually loved it. It was at that time that I knew that I wanted to get into the medical field and become a nurse,” she says. “My first job was here at the Children’s Center as a nurse aide and it encouraged me to go on and become a nurse. Now, I have been here for 5 years and I love everything about it,” she states.
As a nurse educator, Rinehart oversees the training classes for the nurses and answers the abundance of emails. “There are so many emails to respond to,” Rinehart says. “There are certain programs that all of the nurses are required to take plus certifications are done. I also like the fact that I oversee the nurses and have a chance to watch the nurses advance in their careers.” she adds.
“What advice would you give to someone that was thinking of going into the medical field?” I ask Rinehart. “I would tell that person that they need to be patient, to listen and to learn. You would be surprised at how many people get anxious to do something, just to get it done and that just puts someone farther behind. I would tell them to take their time, do it the right way, be patient with it and that person will learn so much more. It is such a great help. I would also tell them that being a nurse is one of the most rewarding jobs ever.”
When asking Rinehart her opinion of what makes a good nurse, she replied, “I think a good nurse needs to be one who can be aware of time management, be empathetic and sympathize with patients. A nurse definitely needs to multi-task,” Rinehart says with a laugh. A nurse needs to be someone who really cares about their job and their occupation. Time management is a big one.”
“I see such a change in the children’s lives here. Everyone here at the Children’s Center has a genuine concern for the children. It is such a big blessing that I can help a child in the smallest way. It is amazing to work with a child and then, see that child smile; a challenge and a breakthrough. It makes my heart happy, there is no other feeling that can describe it. When I come to work, my inspiration is taking care of the children and doing what is best for them. I know that what I do on a daily basis has such an impact on the children every day and those children deserve the world. I love my babies and teenagers,” Rinehart comments.
Describing herself in 3 words, Rinehart says, “I think I am compassionate, caring and I do believe that I think too much. Yes, I know I think too much and that be good or bad,” she laughs.
Rinehart is also on the Capital Campaign committee to expand inpatient and outpatient facilities for Oklahoma children with complex medical traditions and traumatic injuries. The statewide campaign which officially launched during a groundbreaking ceremony on September 17th, featured outreach in the northeast, southeast, central, northwest and southwest regions of the state. “I am so excited about it,” Rinehart added.
One last question for Rinehart. “What words of wisdom would you give to others? “I would say, live life and be happy. I think it is so special working here and I love my job.”

Experts will be speaking on current issues and trends in Palliative Care and End of Life Care for Adults and Pediatrics. Keynote Speakers are Dr. Carole Kenner and Dr. Porter Storey and topics will include Integrated Care and Communication in Pediatric Palliative Care, Withdrawal of care in critically ill children, Sibling communication, Dyspnea in advanced disease, Advanced Directives/DNR/Power of Attorney/ POLST and Care of the caregiver.
Continuing Education credits will be available to Nurses, Social Workers, and Respiratory Therapists. More information and registration available at: https://www.oumedicine.com/oumedicalcenter/2015-palliative-care-summit.
Registration Deadline is October 22, 2015 and the event is free to attend. lunch will be provided. No registration accepted at the conference with no partial attendance.
Presenters and planners have no commercial support or sponsorship to disclose and Continuing Nursing Education Activity of 5.5 contact hours was provided by OU Medical System. OU MEDICAL System is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Western Multi-State Division, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Attendance at the entire offering and completion of the evaluation is required to receive continuing nursing education credits.

Michael Turner’s varied career path includes six years as a hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy; firefighter and paramedic in Kansas; registered nurse in Oklahoma City and Logan County; and certified flight registered nurse. Now, he begins his new role as a nurse practitioner in Mercy Hospital Logan County’s emergency department.
“I found Mercy Hospital Logan County about a year after starting my nursing career and immediately felt that Mercy could fulfill my calling as a registered nurse,” said Turner.
He has worked as a registered nurse at Mercy Hospital Logan County since November 2012 and said it was Mercy’s mission to serve as “the healing ministry of Jesus through compassionate care and exceptional service” that inspired him to go back to school to become a nurse practitioner.
During his Navy career, he was a search and rescue medical technician. In that position, he helped rescue a Blue Angel pilot after he was ejected into the gulf after experiencing engine failure. He said he was also fortunate to help others in emergency situations as a firefighter and paramedic in Wichita, Kansas, and a part-time paramedic in Mulvane, Kansas.
“I have a passion for emergency medicine and I am excited to begin as an advanced practitioner at Mercy,” he said.
Turner received his bachelor’s degree in nursing from Wichita State University and his master’s degree as a family nurse practitioner from Maryville University in Maryville, Missouri.
He is married with three sons. In his spare time, he enjoys participating with his sons in the Boy Scouts. They are looking forward to an 80-mile, 12-day hike at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico next summer.